Dear Dr. John your life history is inspiring and also very motivational , To study in Princeton was my dream and till this day , I dream the same dream for my daughter who is a creative artist for her eight years old age. Actually, they gave voice to 32 workers because although they modestly relegated themselves to an appendix, they shared their personal narratives of their own work experiences. Because work can be a deeply personal experience, it was great to see these authors putting themselves into the same position as their research subjects while also self-reflecting as well reflecting.
And they inspired me to do the same…. My family tree is full of occupations typical of various eras—homemakers of many types, toolmaker, cigar maker, rope maker, teacher, innkeeper, coal miner, tailor, mariner, produce dealer, farmer, woodcutter, soldier, cemetery-mover when Lake Zoar was created , laborers of many types, and even a judge.
Both of my grandfathers were electricians in the navy yards and factories of the eastern United States and hence both suffered from asbestos-induced health problems and both of my grandmothers were homemakers, with one of them becoming a librarian after her children were grown.
My father was a Coast Guard officer; my mother was a teacher before transitioning to a variety of administrative positions, one of which she still works at today in her mids.
My stepfather is a retired engineer and jack of many trades, and my stepmother is a nurse. I had my first formal job when I was 14 years old. I remember having to delay playing with friends to instead ride my bike there most days after school, and getting chased many times by a dog on Walnut Tree Hill Road. I was there by myself so it was a little eerie, and during the summer it was also particularly challenging fighting with the floor waxing machine.
